Saving Money at Disney World with Kids' Meals

Saving money at Disney is a hot topic, and we’re here to help. One of our FAVORITE ways to save on food is by ordering kids’ meals!

A few days ago, two of my best girly pals and I went to a local theme park. Being the broke 20-somethings we are, we tried to spend the least amount of money on food as possible, while still being satisfied. It was then the light bulb went off in my head and I remembered one of my favorite tips for saving money at Disney World: purchasing kids’ meals!

Now, many of you know by now that I am a girl that loves food and eating. That being said, as with most restaurants, the portion sizes at Disney can be HUGE! Plus, most of the kid and adult meals at Disney come with a side/dessert and a drink. All that food, on top of the sun and walking, can really put a damper on your Disney mojo. Not wanting this to happen, once during my internship, I asked if I could purchase the children’s meal instead. And surprisingly, they said yes! Not only did my belly get full, I saved money. Winning!

What I really love about this tip is that it’s easy to do and you still get quality meals. Never did I feel like I was missing out on tastiness. Plus, the money you save can go towards souvenirs, hooray!

You’ll notice on the list below that there are not many burgers and chicken nuggets. It goes without being said that there is a LOT of that available on the kids’ menu, and some are very very good. But, I wanted to showcase some things that are a little healthier, tastier (IMO), and more unique.

Ordering kids meals is one of our top tips for saving money at Disney!

Now let’s talk about some of my favorites. The picture above is the kids’ burger from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe located in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. This is one of my all-time favorites because they have a toppings bar where can really load up your entree. For $7.69 (updated September 2019), you get a decent size cheeseburger, a mandarin orange, applesauce, and your choice of milk, apple juice, or a small bottle of Dasani water. But wait…THEN you go over to the topping bar and go crazy! Just kidding. Ha! But, seriously though, there are endless ways to load up your burger. You can even make it low carb like my mom did in the picture below!

This is the turkey dinner kids meal at Port Orleans Riverside. Not only is this in my top three kids meals (it’s delicious), but this is also my family’s favorite resort!

Another favorite at Riverside Mill Food Court is the breakfast platter. For just $6.49, you get with scrambled eggs with a choice of Mickey-shaped waffle or pancake served with breakfast potatoes and grapes with a choice of milk or water.

One of my favorite places to purchase a children’s meal was at Pinocchio Village Haus, which is located in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland. Recently, the restaurant added flatbread pizzas to their menus, and they are REALLY good! I suggest grabbing a booth by the windows. They overlook the It’s a Small World attraction, making it a perfect place to people watch!

Here are some of our favorite kids’ meals around Disney property:

Magic Kingdom

Pork Carnitas Rice Bowl at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe $7.69
Feast à la Beast at Be Our Guest Restaurant $9.79
Liberty Square Fish at Columbia Harbour House $7.69
Pasta or flatbread at Pinocchio Village Haus $6.49 – $7.69

Epcot

Empanadas con Queso at La Cantina de San Angel $8.50
Salmon with green beans and rice at Sunshine Seasons $7.49
Chicken Teriyaki at Katsura Grill $8.00

Animal Kingdom

Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl at Satu’li Canteen $7.99
Turkey Sandwich with smoked cheddar at Flame Tree BBQ $7.19
Grilled Chicken Bowl at Harambe Market $7.39

Hollywood Studios

Mini Chicken Sub at PizzeRizzo $7.19

It’s important to note that while Disney has never made any announcement as to whether adults can or can not order off the kids’ menu, I have found that it is never an issue at counter service restaurants. I think it’s because it is VERY common for one per some to go to the counter and order while the rest of the party snags a table. So, the person taking your order has no idea who is or isn’t in your party. At a table service restaurant, you’re being waited on, and the served can clearly see who’s ordering. That said, I have ordered kids’ menu at table service restaurants, but I wanted to put that uot there.

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Written by my daughter, Brittany. She completed several Disney internships and eventually accepted a full-time position on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. Read all about her time there over at her blog Britty Loves Disney.